Automatic stitching device



April 17, 1945. I M. scHLoss- 2,373,784

AUTOMATIC STITCHING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1943 I MM I I INVENTOR. ,MORRLS SCHLOSS H: s ATTORNF-Y Patented Apr. 17, 1945 1 patent nn'romuuosrrronme Davie-E 1 V l Morrisschloss;NewYork,N..Y. I Application; July 1 3, 1943*..seriat1ves494,543

.zciai' s. (01. 11123-2) stitching machines for" stitcning hat-brims. ofsailors hats with-continuous.andispiral stitches. .Mcraparti'cularly, it is an object of m-y in'vention torovide a'device Which-Willi-automatically arrang spira'b stitches uniformly spaced apart upomhat-brimsand. similar articles.

Another object of my device-is to pi ov ide a removable nolderwhicn. will accelerate-the prodilution: of spiralsstitching: of hat-trims I sothat;

a liolderi that will i reduce the friction between the holder and the threaded shaft to secure uniform stitching and to permit the sewing machine to run at a low speed thus reducing the Wear and enhancing the life of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide an opening which may be adjusted to the size of the welt of the hat-brim to be attached, at the same time keeping the fabric in place during the stitching operation.

'A further object of my invention'is to provide adjustable means upon the stitching device for adjustment to compensate for any tendency of the fabric to move on the bias, and for adjustment depending upon the size of the stitches and the speed with which the hat-brim moves through the holder. 7

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a. protruding or regulating member for lining up the holder with the stitching foot of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is extremely simple in operation,

and efiicient and positive in its operation, and.

in which loading is facilitated.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference is made'to the following detailed description in connection with the aCCOmpanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view taken through line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the threaded followers of the device in open position.

Referring to the drawing, a shaft l0, located beneath the bed of the-sewing machine, drives a threaded shaft II by means of worm gears l2 and I3. The shaft II has its bearings at I4 and IS in suitable brackets, and is provided with split removable'follew'ers I 6 having threaded semi il' lilal recesses and fit uponthe threads 0f Shaft l l' sothat, upon rotaticn cf shaft H, followers H; are caused to move toward'the right. Fob

loWel s-"l6- are-attached to plates 11 and I8 which are-hinged at t9, the hinge 9 being provided with a spring 20', so that when-the followers [6 areset upon threaded'shaft '1 1 there W111 be suffiienttension to retain the'ftillbWers-upon shaft ll. Attached to plates 1- 1 :and l t-area "p'air of finger pieces 21 and 22 i-espectively, used for separating the split followers F6 for removin the device from: the threaded-'shaft l l.

Attached to the top followers 'IB is a plate 2 3, havingthreaded holes at each end.-

plate 2 4,- having slots 25 at each end, is attachedto' plate 2-3 byset sore-W926 so that plate It-may be adjusted; Washers 21 and 28 are provided for use between the screw 26 and plates 23 and 24. Attached to plate 24 is a bottom member 29, having vertical sides 30 and top portions 3| and 32. An opening 31 exists'between the ends of top portions 31 and 32 to facilitate loading. Memhere 29 to 32, inclusive, are made of metal having some degree of resiliency, and thepart formed by these members is convex in shape and preferably of uniform width and of approximately the width of the hat-brim to be stitched. The fabric to be stitched is placed upon the top of the bottom member 29 and is kept in position by means of the top portions 3| and 32 and a small opening 33 which is created by a bent piece of metal 34. Metal piece 34 is flexible and can be bent and adjusted to the approximate size of the welt of the hat-brim to be attached. The right side member 30 has a protruding extension 35 which may be bent to line up the holder against the stitching foot of the sewing machine.

The operation of my device in connection with a stitching machine is as follows: A hat-brim, preferably the width of the holder, is placed upon the bottom 29 of the holder so that the entire width of the hat-brim is within the vertical sides 30 of the holder. If the hat-brim has a welt at one end, which is usually the case, the Welt falls within the opening 33. The metal member 34 can be slightly bent to hold the welt resiliently during the stitching operation. In the event. the hat-brim has no welt, the metal member 34 can be adjusted to resiliently maintain the hat-brim in sewing position. The finger pieces 2| and 22 are pressed together in order to open the split followers IS. The followers IS in open position, as shown in Fig. 4, are then placed upon the threaded shaft II at the extreme left end of the shaft H with extension 35 against the right side of the foot of the sewing machine. The operator then starts the machine, causing shaft II! to revolve, which rotates threaded shaft I l. The hat-brim will be fed forward and pulled through the holder by the feed dogs 36 of the sewing machine, and at the same time the holder will move transversely to the right on the threaded shaft H since the followers l6 ride upon it. The positive gripping of the followers l6 and shaft ll prevents any Wobbling of the holder so that perfect and uniform stitching is obtained, reducing wear and friction between the followers and the f ers 16 for removal from the threaded shaft H.

Another holder containing a hat-brim within the holder ready for stitching can then be attached and operated in like manner.

In the event the hat-brim has a tendency to move within the holder or the speed of the machine causesthe hat-brim to veer to the left, plate 24 can be adjusted by loosening set screws 26 and changing the position of the plate to compensate for such tendency.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a stitching machine mechanism, a holder adapted to hold a hat-brim so that the hat-brim can be pulled through said holder said holder having a bottom, sides and a split top bendable at the free ends, a bendable welt guide, a. pair of plates having means for adjusting the position of said holder by adjustment of the upper plate, threaded split followers attached to one of said plates, finger pieces for opening said split followers against spring tension, a threaded shaft adapted to. receive said split followers for moving said followers and holder laterally to the line of stitching of said machine when said threaded shaft is rotated.

2. In combination with a stitching machine, a holder adapted to hold a hat-brim so that it can move through said holder against frictional engagement, said holder having bendable top plates with an opening between said plates for easily inserting and guiding said hat-brim, a, flexible adjustable metal piece at one end of said holder adapted to frictionally engage and guide the welt of said hat-brim, an extension protruding from said holder for positioning said holder against the stitching foot of said stitching machine, means for adjusting saidholder, opposed split followers interiorly threaded and adapted to grip a rotatable threaded shaft, spring means for maintaining said split followers together, finger pieces attached to said followers for separating said followers for removal from said shaft and means for rotating said threaded shaft whereby when saidsplit followers grip said rotating shaft said holder will move with saidhat-brim transverse to the line of stitching to produce a uniform and even spiral line of stitching upon said hatbrim.

MORRIS SCHLOSS; 

